Avinyó La Ticota 2017 Gran Reserva Sparkling Wine

This cava with extended ageing is made by Avinyó Vinyaters in the Penedès region of Catalonia.

Avinyó is a unique case of a small winery that exports most of its production and has a firmly established market in the United States through De Maison Selections. Fourteen generations of the family winery have worked in the Can Fontanals farmhouse in Avinyó Nou (Barcelona) and their core business has been growing vines since the 16th century.

It is also one of the few wineries (there are barely 15) to have been granted the Integral Producer seal. This means that the entire production process, from vinification to bottling, takes place on the estate. In fact, Avinyó sources all its grapes from its own vineyards, Can Fontanals, La Fassina and La Guàrdia, all of which are farmed organically. Avinyó only produces premium cavas, starting with the Reserva category, with a minimum ageing period of 18 months.
The Gran Reserva La Ticota is named after a very old vineyard planted in 1940 in Can Fontanals on clay-limestone soils with good water retention. This 100% Xarel.lo aged for 72 months offers all the complexity expected from the category, with notes of toasted bread, ripe citrus fruit and a background of dry grass. It has good weight on the palate; it feels balanced and enveloping with nicely integrated bubbles. A smart buy.

€19 
Score: 92